The 10 Maps which define Red Alert 1 (and every player should know...)
From my experience of online play on CnCNet, I have encountered all play styles and player types. Some players like to sit around and brainlessly spam tesla and v2 in a stamina contest all day. Other players like a 3 minute base trade rush game on a small standard map. Other players like to play with crates settings on (these players tend to be the most athletically gifted and the best looking). This is a list of the 10 most played and most popular maps and their importance in Red Alert play, at least in the CnCNet era of 2010-2020.
10. Arena Valley Extreme
A map that was made popular with aftermath play, this has become a favourite of the Lebanese Red Alert Community. Madman, Butcher and Fighter are particular fans of this map. It has become a regular feature on the 1v1 Ladder and it teaches good money management and map control skills. It's a very useful map to have experience on as it will make your overall play better. I've had some good games with several different opponents on this map.
9. Liquid
A fun map that has become very popular since 2017. In fact it currently might be the single most played map on CnCNet which is incredible and is a testament to the changing playstyles on CnCNet. It has a number of fans but McLovin stands out as the King of this map. You can find a game of Liquid going at any time of the day for all skill levels as there are dozens of players who like this map. This map has even started regular rotation in super-pro games and is often chosen for 3v3 and 4v4 games. It requires exceptional use of scouting, space management for your buildings, and efficient truck mining. It teaches invaluable skills and I thoroughly recommend it. It can become quite monotonous after a couple of games however.
8. Shallow Grave
A small map which is popular with players like Bart and Lordy because it helps get them cheap wins vs pros on the ladder. It can be a fun little map which requires good scouting and teaches you to use boxes of tricks. The only map on this list where making destroyers or a mine layer is considered a viable option. I've seen all sorts of tactics but Ford's grenadiers-in-transporter is the funniest. It's a good map to know as it will teach you different tactics. You can always go for the standard milo 2-war (sell cy), out-Q strategy as well. There's definitely better maps than this but it does have its place in the game and games only last 5 minutes so not overly time consuming.
7. Goldrush/Rasta
I've included Goldrush/Rasta/RockyMountain/Wide Open as essentially the same map because they are all the same concept: Big ass unlimited ore tesla spam contests. They can be extremely boring to play and are often lag infested, however they make this list solely because of their popularity. Noobs love these maps. You will often get semi-decent players playing these maps but are too insecure to play the more pro games which is sad. I don't really consider these games to be very pro since there is no money management required and the skill level is just a spam contest. They are essentially a last resort for game selection. You can always rely on there being a 4v4 Goldrush game going if there's no other pro players online. If you're desperate for a game, goldrush won't let you down. Hopefully you're never that desperate.
6. 4c Niklas
An excellent map. This is perhaps the most pro 1v1 map of all. It does absolutely suck in 2v2 games though because the hole is too small for 4 players at the bottom. Named in honour of the legendary player Niklas, this map requires high level skill. You can try pro-south tanking like Ford or McLovin and Q/GQ your opponent into oblivion. Katsh or Herm's tesla-cying chokepoint block is also a valid strategy, as is 3-war sell. Personally I like to be able to get out a couple of extra cy and control north if possible. Cruisers or a north-side-down apc/tank rush are also valid strategies often seen. Really does require solid all-round skills and is probably the most played map on the 1v1 ladder. It is the only map no1 seems to reject which is a testament to its popularity. Would be higher up this list, but in general the top 5 maps have been played far more in my years playing.
5. Keep off the Grass
A small fun map which has been played religiously since 1996. Essentially you grenadier your opponent into the abyss and you try to control the middle gems. It's a fun map that requires excellent scouting ability. Most popular with players like Robskate, Maddux and now Bart. Bart tries a unique allies turret and rocketmen all-in which usually fails badly, but props to him for trying. Basically it's a map you definitely should know as it will make your overall play better.
4. HJK6
Builders' paradise. Katsh loves this map. Bea5ty, R3sistant, Yuzgen and Kicknass are also very good on this map. Tanking is also an option but you need to be extremely talented and have great timing if doing this. Ford is fantastic at beating builders on this map with his turrets + tanks smother. See this example of Ford's top-class play vs Katsh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtx79M4D-8c . Extremely impressive. This is a map all players should be aware of. It can be quite time consuming, however. If you wish to play optimally, be prepared for a 30 minute game as you often won't be able to completely kill your opponent in the beginning even if you manage to create an advantage. It can be a real grind. Consider yourself pro if you master this map.
3. V3 Ribbon Isle
Definitely one of the 3 most popular maps. I've played more games on this map than probably anything else. It is extremely popular in 2v2. For years we only played 2 maps on CnCNet 4, this and number 1 on the list. Games tend to be tank stack battles in the middle where production will win. Cruisers often come into play. Soviet building is also an option and this works extremely well if you have a German tank partner. It can be a very fun map to play as often the money will run out and being street smart will decide the game. It is essential to know how to play this map if you want to be a strong player. Every good player on CnCNet knows this map.
2. A Path Beyond
The very first map in the skirmish version of the game. This is a map every player should know. It still remains popular even to this day. There is simply no excuse for not knowing this map. It would be number 1 on the list but for the fact you can't really play this in team games. Players like Robskate have notched up thousands of games on this map through the years and it require great attention to detail and truck management. I personally don't enjoy playing it too much as I feel even to this day that North has a strong advantage due to easier money management, but it definitely has its place in the game. It is an integral piece of online play on CnCNet.
1. P4 Rashowdown
Well you knew it was coming. As much as it pains me, P4 is definitely far and away the most played map in the history of CnCNet. Everyone who is anyone has played this map 1000s of times. It can be extremely boring and to be honest I have played it too often I am bored at this point. I intentionally play as allies on this map now because I still have nightmares of 4 hour v2 spam games that ended in a draw. I just can't be bothered with the effort of 10 cying and clicking v2 for over an hour. Some players love that type of game. Some marginal improvements have been made because of the advent of the "Sudden death" feature, whereby the game ends in a draw after a certain amount of time. There is absolutely no excuse for not knowing this map though. In fairness, it is the stepping stone most players take before coming superpro. There've been many players who honed their skills on P4 before venturing out into some of the more pro map types such as 4c and Liquid. Valid strategies include: grenadier and/or tank rush, bunker and tesla spam (often with engineers for back-up), or allied tank spam then chrono/gap/helis. I find that a german front tanker and a soviet back builder is the most lethal combination on this map. They often have a huge advantage against 2 allies or 2 soviets. It can still be fun to play occasionally. Love it or hate it, P4 does deserve its status as the number 1 map all players should know.
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